Training funds offered to B.C. small businesses

Small Business BC is offering to help business owners navigate the paperwork for the new federal-provincial training grant.

“We have now a $2 million stream of the Canada Job Grant that will allow small business owners, if they can find somebody who currently doesn’t have a job but has the skill set that they need with some extra training, and offer that person a job, we can now cover 100 per cent of those training costs, up to $15,000,” said Jobs Minister Shirley Bond.

The program also covers up to two thirds of training costs up to $10,000 for current employees who qualify. Small businesses are those with fewer than 50 employees.

Small Business BC CEO George Hunter said the federal-provincial agency now has more than 100,000 clients out of the 400,000 small businesses in the province. It provides one-on-one support for businesses looking to apply for the program.

Small Business BC can be reached at 1-800-667-2272 or on its website to assist with applications.